These Churros French Toast Bites is a simple breakfast that combine the rick flavors and softness of French toast with the crunch of churros. If you are craving a simple breakfast that’s easy to make and completely irresistible, try these cinnamon toast bites.
Last year during a trip to Costa Rica, I was pleasantly reminded of how much I love churros. It was one of the few sweet treats I simply couldn’t turn down, growing up in a Latin country. The cinnamon smell, the crunch of the dough, and dulce de leche filling are just too good not to indulge.
It was late in the evening and we had just visited a local market. I even spotted a tent selling tapioca Baiana, and although it warmed my heart to see a Bahia being represented, I kept walking past it until I spotted the churros!
That got me thinking of ways I can bring churros closer to home, so this cinnamony French toast with churros flavor was born
Ingredients, variations and substitutions
- Bread – I used brioche bread for its softness and sponge like texture which helps to soak up the batter and therefore have more flavor. However you can use any bread you like. Both this sandwich bread and honey oat bread would be perfect!
- Eggs – half dozen to be precise.
- Milk – any milk works, dairy milk, nut milk, seed milk
- Vanilla extract – for extra flavor
- Sugar – it’s best to use a combination of white sugar and light brown sugar. I am a big fan of coconut sugar and use for all my baking, so that’s what I used in this recipe.
- Cinnamon – the star ingredient.
- Butter – any type of butter will work
- Syrup – alternatively you can use honey or dulce de leche.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bites
- Cut the Bread: Slice your brioche bread into thick slices, about 1 to 1½ inches thick. Then cut each slice into 6 cubes for perfect bite-sized portions.
- Prepare the Bread: Spread the cubed brioche in a single layer on a baking sheet to ensure they crisp evenly.
- Mix the Egg Batter: In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Soak the Bread: Pour the egg mixture over the brioche cubes, ensuring each piece is well-coated. Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for 5 minutes. Turn the bread cubes to ensure both sides are fully saturated.
- Cook the Bites: Melt butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook the French toast bites in batches, flipping occasionally, until they’re golden brown on all sides.
- Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar: While the French toast is cooking, mix white sugar with coconut or brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Coat the Bites: Toss the cooked French toast bites in the cinnamon sugar mixture until evenly coated.
- Serve: Enjoy your mini French toast bites warm with maple syrup, or add a decadent touch by serving them with dulce de leche for dipping.
ALTERNATIVE COOKING METHODS
Skillet – the traditional method. Melt the butter on a skillet and cook the French toast until golden brown. Work in batches.
Oven – I was pleasantly surprised with the results. The French toast comes out uniform and puffy. The entire batch goes in the oven. So good! (see instructions in recipe card)
Air Fryer – work in batches, crispy churros French toast. A great hands-off option. (see instructions in recipe card)
Storage & Reheating
Reheat: Warm them in the oven or air fryer to keep that crispy texture.
Store: Leftover cinnamon toast crunch bites can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Breakfast ideas you’ll love
I take that you are a fan of French toast, like myself, and in this care please check out my Tres Leches French Toast, a creative approach on another Latin favorite, tres leches cake. Or try this Berries ‘n Cream French Toast Casserole recipe.
If you are an egg-person try these Ranchero Beans Breakfast Burritos that are pack-filled with flavorful ranchero beans, fluffy scrambled eggs, roasted peppers, onions and lots of cheese!
My current favorite are these Egg and Chorizo Breakfast Tacos, you can take one look at it and tell me it doesn’t look amazing!
These Churros French Toast Bites are everything you love about cinnamon bread French toast in a fun, bite-sized format. Whether you’re serving them as French toast bites, full French toasts or French toast sticks, this recipe is sure to become a family favorite.
Churros French Toast Bites
Ingredients
- 1 loaf brioche bread
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar or light brown sugar
- 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
Stove Top/ Skillet Instructions
- Cut brioche bread into thick slices about 1 to 1/2 inches. Each slice into 6 cubes.
- Place cubed brioche in a baking sheet. Try a baking sheet where you can fit all the cubed brioche in one layer
- Whisk eggs, milk and vanilla extract in a bowl.
- Add egg mixture to brioche. make sure to saturate all the bread cubes. Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for five minutes, then turn the bread to make sure both sides are saturated.
- Melt butter in a non-stick large skillet. Work in batches cooking the French toast until light brown.
- While the French toast is cooking make the churros topping which is the white sugar, mixed with coconut or brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Toss the French toast bites in cinnamon sugar. Serve with warm maple syrup, honey or a side of dulce de leche for dipping.
Oven Instructions
- After step 4. Transfer French toast bites to a lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 350F degrees for 15 minutes, turning them over at about 10 minutes.
- Then continue on with step 6, mixing the sugar to coat the French toast.
Air Fryer Instructions
- After step 4 Transfer French toast bites to a lined or sprayed air fryer basket. Note if the air fryer isn't lined or greased well, the French toast bites will stick.
- Cook in air fryer for 8 minutes or until golden brown.
- Proceed to step 6, mixing the sugar to coat the French Toast
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
